Much of the New York State Library's collections were lost in the 1911 fire. Below are some examples of documents from the NYS Library collections that survived the fire, though with damage.
Having been carefully preserved in the hands of the family for more than 250 years, the Van Rensselaer Manor Papers were severely damaged within a few hours to the extent that hardly a single item is intact and utmost patience was required to translate them. The remnant of the letter of Arent van Curler to the Patroon Kiliaen van Rensselaer, 16 June 1643, vividly depicts the ravages of the fire.